Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often have to migrate data when changing their device or after resetting. By default, modern versions of the MIUI shell and HyperOS offer to save new numbers immediately to your Google account, which is the most reliable way to sync. However, if you are used to storing information locally or transferring data from a button phone, you will need to perform manual movement.
The procedure of copying numbers to the internal memory of the device ("Phone") or to the Google account takes only a few minutes, but requires careful choice of source and recipient of data. Wrong choice can lead to duplicate records or their complete loss during formatting. In this guide, we will discuss all available ways to import and export the phone book, so that your important connections are always available.
The operation is done through the standard Contacts app, which is pre-installed on all brand devices, regardless of the regional version of the firmware. You do not need to install third-party software or obtain superuser rights, just have access to the settings of the application itself and, in some cases, access to the file system to work with backups of.vcf format.
Preparation for transfer and verification of sources
Before you start mass copying, you need to make sure that the source data is available to the system and not corrupted. SIM-map, but not displayed in the general list due to filtering settings. Open the Contacts app and go to the display settings to make sure the tick is opposite the item «SIM-map or "All contacts».
If you plan to transfer data from another device via Bluetooth or cable, make sure that the receiving Xiaomi phone has enough free space. Although the text recordings themselves take up a negligible amount, the import process may require a temporary buffer. It is also worth checking the battery power, as when working with large databases (more than 1000 numbers), the device can significantly heat up.
⚠️ Warning: Before any database manipulations are initiated, it is strongly recommended to back up your current records. Even if you are confident in your actions, an accidental app crash can lead to a synchronization conflict.
To verify data integrity, you can use the "Combine Repetitive Contacts" feature, which is built into the tool menu, which will avoid the situation when you copy two numbers with different names, and the system will offer options for merging cards, which will significantly streamline the phone book.
Transfer of contacts with SIM-cards on the Xiaomi phone
The most common scenario is the transfer of records from plastic SIM-cards in the internal storage of the smartphone. SIM-The cards have limited memory and often crop long names or don't support adding additional fields such as email or address.
To start, open the standard Contacts app from Xiaomi. in the upper right corner or at the bottom of the screen (depending on the version). MIUI) Find a three-dot menu icon or a gear settings. You will need to select "Import and export contacts." In the menu that opens, click on "Import from". SIM-map».
The system will tell you where to save data, and it's critical to choose the right destination, so if you choose "Phone," the contacts will be stored locally on that device, if you choose a Google account, they will automatically sync to the cloud, and if you choose "Phone" or "Device" for local storage.
☑️ Import checklist
Once you select the target folder, the system will request confirmation of the operation. Click OK or Import. The process will be instant for small lists, but if there are several hundred numbers on the map, it may take a few seconds, and when you complete, you will see a notification of successful import.
What if the names are displayed in hieroglyphics?
Copying from your phone’s memory to your Google account
Keeping contacts in the phone’s memory (the “Phone”) carries risks: if the device breaks, or if the settings are lost or reset to factory settings, all data will be lost irretrievably. Therefore, experts recommend regularly migrating local records to Google’s cloud profile, which provides access to numbers from any device, whether it is a new smartphone, tablet or computer.
The procedure is similar to the previous one, but it is done in reverse order. Go to the Import and Export Contacts menu and select the option “Import from phone memory” (or “Import from device”). As a data recipient, be sure to specify your Gmail account.
It's important to note that when you copy to Google, you merge data, and if you already have a contact with the same number or name in the cloud, the system may suggest combining it or creating a duplicate.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure your device is synchronized. Without an active Internet connection, contacts won’t go to the cloud immediately, but will stay in line until the next Wi-Fi or mobile connection.
Once the import is complete, it is recommended to go to the settings of your Google account on your phone (Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google) and click on the “Sync” button, which will force all changes to the server, ensuring that the data is safe even in the event of a sudden battery drain.
Using VCF files for backup
The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal standard for exchanging contacts between different operating systems, including Android, iOS and Windows. Creating such a file is the best way to make a full backup of a phone book that can be saved to a flash drive, sent to a messenger or uploaded to cloud storage.
To create a file, go to the Import and Export Contacts menu and select Export to Phone Memory or Export to Storage. The system will generate a file named contacts.vcf (or with an added date) and save it in the root directory or in the MIUI/contacts folder. This file contains a text description of all selected contacts.
To recover data from a.vcf file on a new Xiaomi device, it is easy to find this file through the file manager and click on it. The system automatically recognizes the format and prompts you to import the records contained there. You can also send the file via Bluetooth or Mi Drop to another phone, where it will immediately be added to the address book.
| Method of conservation | Security of data | Availability | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM's memory | Low (risk of card damage) | Only on the card device. | Temporary storage, old phones |
| Phone memory | Medium (reset risk) | Only on this device. | Confidential numbers that are not synchronized |
| Google account | High (cloud reservation) | From any device in the world | The main storage method for all users |
| VCF file | Depends on the file storage location | Where the file is saved | Complete archive copies before selling the phone |
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Save the VCF file not only in the phone’s memory, but also copy it to your computer or send it to Telegram/Email (“Favorites”) to have access to the database of numbers even if you completely lose your smartphone.
Removing duplicates and sorting records
After multiple data transfers between SIM-There's often a problem with duplication with a card, a phone memory, and a cloud, and one subscriber can have two or three cards: one with a mobile number, one with a home number, and a third with a copy of the old one. SIM-Xiaomi provides built-in tools to clean the list.
In the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner and select Contact Organization or Tools. Here you can use the Combine Repeated Contacts function. The algorithm will automatically find the records with the same phone numbers or names and suggest combining them into one card, saving all available fields.
You can also adjust the order of sorting. In the display settings, choose whether to sort the list by name or by surname. For Russian-speaking users, it is also important to choose the sorting language so that the names in Cyrillic do not mix with the Latin alphabet or go to the end of the list.
If the automatic pairing didn't work correctly, you can use manual mode. Select two contacts, press Link contacts, and the system will combine their fields. This is useful when contacts have different numbers, but you want to see all the information about one person in one card.
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Regularly cleaning up duplicates not only (decorates) the list, but also speeds up the Contacts app and database search, especially if it has more than 500 entries.
Frequent problems in import and export
Users may find that after copying some contacts are missing or not displayed correctly, often because when importing the contacts, the user will be able to access them. SIM-The cards are cut off with long names (more than one). 15-20 characters) or special characters are lost, in which case manual editing of the card after transfer will help.
Another common problem is that contacts are not visible after transfer. Check the display filter. Perhaps when you copy them, they were saved to an account that is now hidden in the visibility settings. Click on the filter icon (usually three stripes or people) and make sure that the "Show all contacts" check box or the appropriate account is selected.
There may also be a conflict of application versions, and if you use a third-party caller instead of a standard MIUI Dialer, the paths to the menu may be different and the import functions may not be available, in which case you should temporarily switch to a standard application for copying.
⚠️ Note: When transferring contacts from iOS (iPhone) to Xiaomi via file VCF, Make sure that all fields are selected in the iPhone settings when exporting, sometimes photos of subscribers are lost during transfer, as they are not always correctly encoded in the text file vCard.